Improvement in cotton-gins



' 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented Dec. 20,. 1859.

0; e. OLMSTEAD.

Cotton Gin.

Inventor.

N. PETiRs. mm-umom hu, wmungmn. ova

. 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. D. G. OLMSTEAD. Cotton Gin.

No. 26,516. Patented Dec. 20, 1859.

N. FETERS. Filoln-Uli'mgnpban Wahingim. D.C.

UNITED STATES D. e. OLMSTED, oFyIoKsBUne, MIssIssIrrI.

PATENT OFFI IMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-GINSQ- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 26,516, dated December 20, 1859.

tion thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification Figure 1 being a side elevation of the cotton-gin; Fig. 2, a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a vertical section thereof in the plane indi-I cated by the line 00 m, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the front endof the cotton-gin, showing the side opposite to that seen in Fig. 1; Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 9, views of parts detached;

Fig. 8, view of a part detached, exhibitingfor the purpose of tightening orl'oosening the bands 13 and 14, when desired, so. far, asinotfl 1 some modifications in itsconstruction.

Like letters designatecorresponding parts in all the figures. The main frame A, in which are mounted the saw-cylinder O, stripping-brush D, and

the parts immediately connected therewith, is

' of any suitable ordinary construction.

The hopper-frame B, in which are situated the roll box R, the grate F, andall the parts imme-. diately connected therewith for feeding in the cotton and preparing it for the saws, is hinged 'to the main frame'A at a, so that the whole may be turned up, as indicated by red lines in Fig. 4, when that is desired for any pur pose. The revolving spiral screen Land hol low cylindrical screen M (when employed) and feedingcylinder N being mounted in the hinged hopper-frame B, while the power for driving all the parts of the machine is first communicated to the saw-cylinder G, 1 ar-' range theintermediategearing in relation to the hinging of the said frame B, so that the latter may be turned up to any extent without requiring the operation of the machine to be suspended or retarded, and without interfering in the least with the continual action of any part. The arrangement is substantially as follows: On a journal, or, the same as or in the same line as the axis on which the hopperframe B turns, a pulley, 8, is located, and receives a band, 13, passing from a pulley,7, on the saw-cylinder shaft 0, to which the power isdirectly applied. Froma pulley, 8,-on the same shaft, but of a smaller size than the pulley 15, a band, 14, passes to a pulley, 10, on

the shaft of the spiral screen L, and a cogwheel, 9, on the same shaftas thesaid pnlleys 8 and 15, gears intoanother cog-wheel,

11, on the hollow shaft or. journal of the eylindrical screen M, thus causing said screen to revolve in the direetionopposite to that of said spiralscreen, andthe last mentioned cog f wheel, 11, gears into another cog-wheel, 12, on

theshaft ofthe feeding-cylinder N. Thusfthe connectingpulleys 8 and 15 and cog-wheel 9,.

turning on the same axis'as the. frame B, it) i follows that the turning of the latter can have no effect to disarrange theaetion of the ma,

chiuery driven through said connecting-p111 The journal a is to be 5 adj usted in position by securing ,it :in a slot,

leys and cog-wheel.

o, inthe standard V of the frame A by a screw and nut, w, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7,

to-throw the cog wheelsp9 andllout of gear or disarrangethe same when the ho pper-frame B is raised. i For the purpose of lubricating with con-' ceive the oil, which is pouredthrough an aperture, y, substantially as, shownfin .7, I and other small holes, 2 .2, extending downthrough the lower side of the journal from" said: hollow space, admit the? oil to the bearl ing-surface of the pulleys and cog-wheel. H

The stripifing-brush D is driven by'a band,

5, passing from a pulley, l, "on the other end of the saw-cylinder shaft, over a pulley, 2, on the shaft 0 of said brush, and thence aroundau tightening'pulley, 3,in theusualmanner'. The: hatchel-cylinderuEis also driven byaband, 6, passing from the same pulley around a pul 1 lay, 4, on the shaft of said hatehehcylinder.. My improved cotton-gin is constructed so i as to be adapted to the purpose of ginning all i conditions of cotton, wet ordry, clean cotton,

or rough cotton, for which general purposel have made several improvements indifferent 1 parts of the machine.

The rolhbox B, I construct substantially in l the shape represented in Fig 3, and in the middle thereof I locatemy revolving spiral screen L, which consists'gof a cylinder orshaft, around which is wound a spiral flange,l,i the. I j

distancebetween the adj acentcoils thereof being such as to allowthe hullsl topass freely 1 within without admitting the bolls of cotton, and the height of the flange is sufficient to receive the hulls and trash and discharge them as fast as they accumulate therein. Instead of a simple continuous flange, Z, any equivalent modification thereof may be employed such as the flattened proj ections Z l or the pins Z Z", spirally arranged, as shown in Fig. 8, or any other arrangement which substantially furnishes a'screen or separator spirally arranged. The spiral arrangement is for the purpose of working the hulls to the ends of the cylinder, and thence discharging" them through openings U at the sides of the cottongin. The flange (or its equivalent) may either be wound in opposite directions from the middle, so as to discharge the hulls at both ends thereof, or it may be wound the whole length of the cylinder in one direction, so as to 'discharge the hulls only at one end. In addition to the spiral screen, there is added, if desired, a cylindrical hollow screen, M, placed concentrically around the spiral screen, and revolving in the opposite direction thereto. The construction of this screen may be as shown in the drawings, or in any equivalent manner, so as to offer meshes of the proper size to allow the hulls to pass through and leave the cotton outside; but this cylindrical screen, although it may add to the efficiency of the spiral screen within, cannot well be used alone without the spiral screen or something equivalent for discharging the hulls from it. It revolves in the direction in which the roll revolves. If the spiral screen is used alone, it, should revolve in the same direction; but if used with the cylindrical screen it should revolve in the opposite direction. The screen (or screens) is situated near the center or axis of the roll-box R; but I find that it is best to the space in the roll-box may widen therefrom gradually upward in the direction of the rolls motion to the mouth of the roll-box at the top, and thence leave an increasing space downward on the other side to the saws. By this arrangement the roll is never stopped, but continues to move freely, and the feeding in of fresh cotton at the mouth does not affect it. The screen (or screens) is mounted in bearings in a, suspended from the sides of the rollboX above, as represented, so as not to impede the discharge of the hulls through the apertures U U. An improved mode of oiling the journals of the two screens (when used together) is represented in Fig. 9. The oil is introduced through a hole in the top of the bearing, which admits it to the outer journal and a hole through said outer hollow journal, and, passing just beneath the hole through the bearing, admits the oil to the inner journal- A lid, 17', closes over the oil-holes to keep them free from dirt.

Spouts T T are located outside of the cottongin, to receive the hulls as they come from the machine and convey them away. These spouts are made adjustable in position endwise, so as to convey the hulls into the seedtrough at the front of the cotton-gin, or over beyond the same, as may be preferred, by changing the position of said spouts. Fenders t t are located at the rear of the openings U U, as represented, for the purpose of preventing the hulls from being forced back behind the spouts, and thus directing them into the same.

The breast-board I of the roll-box is made to swing out, as indicated in Fig. 3, for the purpose of getting access to the roll-box or for any otherdesired object. The hinge at the top is located so far back over the roll-box pose of adjusting said seed-board to any de sired position. The construction of the adjusting arrangement is most distinctly represented in Fig. 6. The ratchet-arm p is provided with teeth on its under edge and extends through an aperture in the projection. Q, so

that said teeth will fit over the lower edge of said aperture. A small socket is situated just above the ratchet-arm, and a coiled spring, q, and bolt 1" are fitted therein, as shown. The expansion of the spring forces the bolt down against the ratchet-arm and causes its teeth to hold in any desired position. By first fitting the ratchet-arm away from the edge of its aperture it may be pushed out or in without impediment. The ratchet-teeth may be so shaped that the ratchet-arm may be forced inward without first raising it, as represented. Instead of locating a coiled spring in a socket, as shown, any other construction and arrangement of a spring may be employed for holding the ratchet-arm down.

The object of the adjustable seed-board J is to control the discharge of the seed according to the different conditions of the cotton. If

the cotton is damp, thesced-board is raised, as

indicated by red lines in Fig. 3, so as to retain the seeds longer in the roll-box, or until the fibers are completely stripped off. If the cotton is dry, the fibers are stripped off more readily, and consequently the seeds may pass off more rapidly, in which case the seed-board is let down farther, and thus allows more space for the discharge of the seed. Thus the position of the seed-board is to be varied according to the greater or less facility with which the fibers are stripped from the seed.

In first filling the roll-box R on starting the cotton-gin, and also when the cotton is clean, I generally feed through the door in the top of the roll-box, and thus gain time in the one caseand gin somewhat faster in the other case; but in ginning wet onrough cotton I first place it in a hopper, Z, located in front and beneath the roll-box, and then feed it up into the ro llbox through ahulling-grate, H. The arrangement and operation of this grate, of the hopper Z, feeding-cylinder N, ginning-grate F, and ginning-saws c c for the accomplishment of this purpose are substantially as follows: The grate H is composed of narrow ribs with spaces between wide enough to allow the cotton and seeds to freely pass through, but narrow enough to exclude most of the hulls and trash. They are attached at their upper ends to a hinged bar or board, so that the whole grate may swing out and in, as indicated in Fig. 3. A ratchet-arm, 19, arranged in the same way as that above described for adjusting the seed-board J, is employed for adjusting the said grate. The inner lower ends of the grate-ribs do not extend quite back to the ginning-grate F, but leave a space between wide enough to allow the seeds to freely pass down through and escape.

The hopper Z is shaped so as to approximate as nearly as practicable to a cylindrical form, for the purpose of producing a regular roll of the rough cotton therein. To this end not only is the front side, Q, properly curved, but curved projections 71. h are formed on the upper and front side of the ribs composing the grate, substantially as shown, so that the cotton may not rise up through the feedingmouth, and also a curved extension, G, of the ginning-grate F is provided, as represented in Fig. 3, the form being such as to conform to the general shape of the hopper, and curved projections ff, where the extension G unites with the regular grate F, are also formed on the ribs, for the purpose of directing the cotton. past the lower edge of the grate H, and

. thereby of preventing the clogging of the same in the seed-discharging space between the two grates,all substantially as represented. In order further to assist in establishing the roll of the cotton in the hopper, I locate the feeding-cylinder N (before mentioned) at the bottom thereof, between the front side, Q, and the grateextension G. This cylinder isprovided with staple or knuckle like projections n n, so as to take hold of the roll, but not to cling theretoand waste the cotton or obstruct the motion of the roll. It revolves in the directionindicated by the arrowin Fig. 3. It

also serves the 3111 ose "of dischar in the freed hulls, 8m. 1

The saws c a pass through the grate-extension G, and first act upon the roll in the hopper and carry the cotton with. its seed up through the hulling-grate into the roll-box into the roll-box.

the hopper Z. When feeding into the rollbox, this apron is arranged so as to be un-j: hinged and taken away. Itisgprovided w1th 1 arms 7c is, reaching somewhat over theibreastboard I, so that when the latter israised the, apron may be thrown backtherebywithout; i further trouble or attention, ,rrhenp er part; i a P, of the.hopper-frontQ,mayalsobehingedg if desired, so as to be thrown back, when de. y, j if sired, out. of the way jovcrthe mouthof the hopper.

After the lint isstripped from the seeds by] the saws I subjectitto a sort of hatcheling orcombing process while strippingit from the saws by the stripping-brush D; For this pur pose I employ what I have termed a hatchel j cylinder, E, which is located; closely beh I tween and below the said saws and stripping-brush and revolvesslowlyin the direc-ji tion indicated by the arrowfin Fig. 3. This cylinder is provided with stiff projecting wires or teeth 6 .e, situated at sufficient distances one a from the other -to allow. the trash or bits of, -leaf which may be separated fromthelint to pass freely throughbetween them andescape. y The lint, as it is stripped frornthe saws by the. a y

stripping-brush D,isdashedagainst and drawn f through said teeth of :the hatchelcylinder byf said stripping-brush, and therebyfreed fromflr l j i the trash or bits of leaf,which are broken into .i 1; fine particles by this action, and escapethrough: 1 y a said teeth ee, the operationl being assistedbyg the constant revolving of the cylinder 1 111 order to direct the motion of theair pro; duced by thesaws and stripping-brushprop-u erl y upon the hatchelcylindersand thusassistj j inthe discharge of the trash, aswell as tocause 1 cotton rapidly and well, wl1ile clean cotto ris. ginned still more rapidly by feeding directly: 5

the lint to pass off in the proper, directioni 1% without waste, I employ ani air conductor or gf director of peculiar construction and arrange-,3

ment.

For this use Ifindbristles to be theif 1 most suitable, since they furnish a partitionjp which closely fills the spaces between the saws, 1

at the same time yielding to thefibers as they pass through, and arepractically impervious 1 enough to the air; but whateversubstancemay be employedhavinganjequivalent eflectI claim 1 to use.

Thisv partition of. bristles is secured l l to a solid partition, X, reaC hing dOWn from il e the top of the cottongin nearly toithe edge of the saws, as shown in Fig! 3. Thencethe, bristle partition extends just across the rear? edges of the saws, only allowing: the teethto. f l i be swept by the stripping-brush. behind it, and reaches nearly to thei hatchel-cylinder, f substantially in the position anddirection in-fl dicated in Fig. 3. The air is by this means]:

directed 'down against the rearsideofjthe 1 hatchel-cylinder when des1red,'}and is almost: f completely prevented ifrompassing along the, f

saws in front of said hatchel-cylinder. Thus the air is concentrated upon the hatchel-cylin der at the proper place, and, blowing through the teeth thereof, effectually clears out the trash.

The mote-board P is hinged, as represented in Fig. 3, so as to be adjusted up and down for the purpose of separating the motes from the lint. v

The stripping-brush D is constructed as usual, except that I extend one or more of the brush-wings cl d somewhat beyond the cylinder from which they project, and continue these extensions over the ends of the cylinder toward or to theshaft O, as shown at 0 0, Fig. 5. These extensions serve to increase the force of the current produced by the revolution of the brush and of directing it so as to drive the lint farther into the lint-room. This is only efiected in the best manner by making these fan-like extensions continuations of the wings (I d, so that the end blast and side blast may act together. The air is admitted through apertures 88 in the sides of the cotton-gin, generally somewhat above the shaft, said apertures being closed or adjusted by sliding shutters or gates S, Fig. 1.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

I 1. Feeding the cotton into the roll box through a hulling-grate, H, so as to exclude the principal hulls and trash, while the seedcotton is admitted, as specified.

2. The projections ff at the intersection of the ribs of the ginning-grate F and extension G, for the purpose of directing the cotton past the seed-space at the lower edge of the hullinggrate H, in combination with said grate H.

3. The arrangementof the air-directin g partition a, constructed substantially as described, in combination with the hatchel-cylinderE, for the purpose specified, at the same time disclaiming its use in any other manner or connection.

4. The extensions 0 0, when arranged as continuations of the brush-wings d (1 around the ends or heads of the brush-cylinder, for the purpose herein specified, while I disclaim the use of wings or fans on the ends of the brush-cylinder unconnected with the brushwings (I d.

n. e. OLMSTED.

NVitn esses R. F, OSGOOD, J. S. BROWN. 

